Some of the most beautiful work of this craftsman, and many others, are in this book “Liège Gunmakers through their Work. 1800 - 1950”.
For more detail see: LIEGE GUNMAKERS
Auguste Francotte
It is about an adaptation-imitation of automatic pistol LUGER PARABELLUM in 22L Flobert realized by arms manufacture of Liège. The weapon just like the PARABELLUM is armed by a knuckle breech.
This weapon carries the punches of the proofhouse of Liege, namely:
ELG * in a crowned oval: final acceptance post 1893.
W*: countermark of the controller post 1877.
R crowned: rifled bore, of use of 1894 to 1968.
The weapon also carries the following marks:
FL 22L: gauge 22 Long type FLOBERT.
PIRE et Cie à ANVERS: it is acted in fact of a detailing arms manufacturer who had had a speciality of the resale of weapons coming from stock old weapons (army, gendarmerie etc.) It was also provided in LIEGE because of the unbeatable prices. (See the site).
In enclosure, a page of the catalog presenting a more or less similar parabellum.
GG
This weapon was invented and developed in Switzerland by the arms manufacturer Casimir Weber which deposited a patent n°218760 besides, patent that I never managed to find.
They indeed were manufactured at Francotte in Liege. According to the received information of Switzerland the first series would limit to maximum 200 parts and the second series with maximum 100 parts.
These weapons were manufactured in two different models: the first model didn’t have an adjustable rise, the second models yes.
These weapons were never included in the weapons of Swiss ordinance, they were bought by the officers and under senior officers like by the people eager to make shooting of precision.
The major part of these weapons is in large collections in Switzerland or in the United States and of course some on our premises.
Max.
